On Building a Cyclical Company…

Being in Colorado, for me, means spending time with some of my most grounded and intentional friends.

It’s funny how a spontaneous trip can lead you down a completely different path. I suppose all of life is like that – little decisions that lead you in a new direction.

Now that I’m back in the hustle of NYC, pieces of conversations with friends keep popping up in my mind. Hidden in those heart-to-hearts are little bits of wisdom, that I never expected, but always show up. One hike with a good friend can shift your thinking, spark a new idea, or plant the seed for major change.

What I’m thinking about most, lately, is winter. I have struggled with the short hours, long nights, and bitter cold.

In the warmth of spring, on a walk with my good friend Lisa, it clicked for me:

My expectations of myself can, and should, change with the seasons.

And my business should change, too.

We live on a planet that circles a sun in such a way that our entire landscape, weather, and light changes — completely — through every rotation. Everything else in nature adapts. Plants prepare for renewal. Animals store food, migrate, and hibernate. But us? We just keep going, working our usual hours, pretending as though nothing has changed. Crank out work. Hustle twice as hard. Attempt to defy nature.

For the first time, I feel permission to do less, accomplish less, and expect less next winter. I don’t need to keep up with this crazy world.

Since I have the extreme fortune (or curse, depending on the day!) of an entrepreneurial life, that means I can craft my flow of energy and effort. And that’s what I’m going to do.

Spring and summer mean renewal, growth, sun, long days. I intend to use all of the energy given to me, as Lisa would say, to do my best for Seamly.co. We’re hosting a vote for our new piece, launching it on Kickstarter (before fall sets in, I’m hoping), and in the meantime, working to spread the word about Seamly.co to like-minds.

Eventually, the leaves will fall off, and the cold will come back. While I won’t hibernate completely, I’m doing things differently next winter. Expecting less. Doing more for myself. Allowing Seamly.co to be cyclical, as nature intends.

Bring on the long days, big ideas, and summer energy. I’m finally ready.

XO

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Kristin Glenn

Hi! I'm Kristin, the founder / designer at Seamly.co. A few years ago, I became obsessed with sustainable fashion, co-founding {r}evolution apparel and Kickstarting "the Versalette" -- without knowing how to sew industrially or draft a pattern. Now, I'm going back to the basics, and learning how this big fashion machine works...

In our education system and many office settings we do the opposite: slow down from work in the summer in order to relax and enjoy the weather, then get back into the grind in the winter. But whatever season invigorates you, make the most of it!